meowgirl

Thanks for the info! I'm organizing paperwork as I type!

sending everyone positivity...

a quick question. i checked the guide for the affidavit of support, and it stated that there is a second form required for sydney (financial responsibility under the social security act). meowboy did not send me that form to fill out. is that really required or is the guide incorrect?

Also, shoudl I jsut estimate the cost of my car (other personal property)?

So that being said, I would like to show you all something ...

CLICK HERE

This was beautifully written, thank you for sharing:

I can't say it any better than my wife has said it.

I try to stay positive - not just for me but for Rings, who I love and cherish and worry about, and who I want to be strong for. I don't always succeed. Many of these days I feel like I am only half a person, trying to fill my days with things that might mean something to anyone else but to me they are just ways to get through the time while my life sits on somebody's desk waiting to be processed.

I know I should be thankful that we are on our way. I should be thankful that I have such a wonderful wife and so much to look forward to. I should be thankful that I have been given the chance to love and to be loved. I should be thankful my story hasn't yet become like some I have read here, including those of some of you who have posted here in this thread. I should be happy that I still have hope, and that I may be home by Christmas if everything goes smoothly.

My heart breaks for any of you who have had to wait, who have been questioned or denied even though your love is real. I do understand why the process is difficult, and why the US government needs to determine that relationships and marriages are genuine. But while I know that they are just being careful, I desperately wish that they could just see us together, just look at the love in our eyes and know that we are doing this because we cannot live without our love. I wish that I could make them understand the hurt that we go through every day that we are forced to wait.

I wish...

I wish so many things, but most of all I just wish I could begin my life with the girl I want to grow old with.

To all of you who hurt, who have been made to wait, who have been questioned and refused and who have had to justify your love to some government employee...I hope your life after this awful wait is filled with happiness and fulfilment, enough to wash away the pain that leads to the beginning of something truly magical.

aww, that's beautiful. hugs all around.

Congratulations on all of the approvals!

Sorry about that delay, Sharyna.

HOw long does it take for them to reply to an email?

Wonderful news!

A message you wrote helped give me hope that we might be approved in spite of some questions, and sure enough, we were.

Congratulations on your own approval, and may you speed along to the embassy!

Congratulations on all of the approvals!

I have to admit that I'm also a bit dismayed to hear news of Sharyna's October interview date. Meowboy has his medical on July 23, so we won't be able to send the statement of readiness until August, probably, which might mean a date in November!! This process is frustrating.

Congrats to Elle on your arrival and to Loke and Rings on your interview!! How wonderful!

TIM TAM FIX...

Cravings can be sated through visits to your local Cost Plus World Market, who stock Tim Tams. http://www.worldmarket.com/custserv/store_locator.cmd

Of course, they're called Arnott's, not Tim Tams, but the rest of the packaging is the same. They carry Original, Chewy Caramel, and Double Coated.

You can also find Violet Crumble at World Market! Happy shopping!

I'm going to nibble on an double coated biscuit while I read VJ. YUM!!!

I am currently waiting for my paperwork to be forwarded to NVC and planning ahead for next steps.

A couple of questions:

Does meowboy need to get his vaccinations taken care of BEFORE the medical appointment?

Does the police certificate/ affidavit of support/ employer letter/ vaccination stuff need to be taken care of after the embassy sends the packet, or can we start preparing this while we are waiting?

Thanks!

I'm a CSC February filer who hasn't even arrived at NVC yet

I was only approved on June 4 (notice date June 7) so I expect it will probably arrive soon. Kind of surprised though, as my last touch was on June 8 - perhaps to prepare it for mailing?

I wonder how files are actually shipped from CSC to NVC? Internationally, it looks like they use DHL, but what about nationally? Anybody know?

Hello everyone,

I've lurked on htis thread but I haven't posted in a while. My NOA2 was approved on the 4th, and I just found out yesterday (June 7). I am beyond excited!

Thanks for all of your support and the valuable numbers for the next steps! I heart VisaJourney!

It's funny - while looking back at my paperwork, I realized that I never sent the originals of Meowboy's letter of intent and g325a forms! I rushed to mail the packet by the deadline, so I had to use scanned copies. His original documents didn't arrive from Australia until after I mailed the packet. I expected to get a RFE for this as well, but we never did!

We are certainly lucky ducks...

Woohoo! Our petition was approved on Monday!!! Congrats to everyone else!!!

Does Packet 3 include the I134 and other documents, or is it a separate thing altogether?

I am very pleased to report that my application HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!!! I called USCIS earlier this afternoon and dialed through to the RFE line, inquiring about all of the touches and the turnaround time for a definite response. The very friendly officer on the phone checked the records and said I was approved! I said "Are you serious?" which in retrospect was probably not the smartest thing to say, and she said "yes, you were approved on Monday June 4." Of course, at that point, the happy tears started and I could hardly make the pleasant small talk that closed the conversation.

Prayers, positive energy, and good wishes really worked. Now on to NVC, I guess!

The two year time frame is determined by the date USCIS receives your petition. For example, if your I-129F was received July 1, 2007 then USCIS requires evidence that you both met in person between July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2007. Refer to the VJ guides for ideas/suggestions about compelling evidence.

MM and MS

USCIS guidelines state that the beneficiary and petitioner must meet in the two years prior to submission of the application. How is that two year time frame determined? Is it from the date of the NOA1, the postmark date, or some other date altogether?

MM and MS, I don't think that date has been formally established in writing or in the guides, hence this discussion. USCIS staff never gave official information when asked. We shall see what happens.

Oh, and I had another touch!!! We are getting close to a decision!

Lots of touches in the past few days! Fingers crossed for good news, but I'm going to start organizing details for reapplication or contact with congressperson, just in case.

What is the average amount of time to hear back from CSC? Is it a few weeks? My situation is a bit strange, I understand, so the average may not apply here...

Congrats to the February filers who have been approved! We had a RFE, sent in the evidence requested, and are now waiting on a verdict from CSC...

Although the case website hasn't been updated, my USPS delivery confirmation shows that our package was received yesterday.

Our response to the RFE is highly organized, while using a simple and concise style for increased accessibility by the readers. Lots of bullet points and bolded phrases to call things to their attention, and minimal use of text.

We included information from the trip in 05, proof of delivery of the previous application on Feb 1, 2007, and details from his current visit.

If nothing else, we have gotten ourselves organized for our appeal/reapplication...

Prayers and positive energy would be appreciated!!!

I know, I was shocked as well by some of the statements from the officer.

So we went to the Infopass appointment this morning.

I asked the officer about the RFE and the two-year time frame.

-The officer said that we just need to resend the information we sent originally, but organize it with a cover sheet, colored tabs and the like. This was totally not what I expected to hear, since I did complete a cover sheet with bullet points in my original submission. Apparently we need to keep the interest of the officer reading the application - at least that was my impression based on the officer's comments.

-The officer also said that we should include evidence of Meowboy's current visit in the packet. I asked if it would make any difference due to the fact that the visit is post-application. He said "send it along, why would they make you reapply?" or something along those lines. Also unexpected.

-He never gave me a firm answer about the date used for the two years, even though I asked him the same question three different ways. From what I heard, the actual date seemed less important than the quality and organization of other evidence.

The officer seemd fairly confident that we wouldn't receive a denial if we make those changes. Our plan at this point (even though we are uncertain and more than slightly confused) is to answer the RFE, pointing out that we mailed the information within the two-year deadline (I have proof of mailing exactly two years to the day). We will include past evidence (organized nicely with colored tabs and divider pages and whatever else we can come up with) as well as current evidence (boarding pass, itinerary, short-term lease and letter from landlord with both of our names on it, photos together and with family, etc).

If that doesn't work, we have some other things to consider...

TimsDaisy's right. The purpose of this current visit is just to spend time with each other. The only reason anything other than the K1 route crossed my mind is because another poster brought it up.

geeez, if he's here now....

Well, I might visit a *different* government office than the CIS....

are you thinking of a civil marriage, meauxna?

Thanks for the feedback.

I was unsure about how assertive I should be with the officer about the case, and your comments have helped with that decision. I recognize that the officer won't have final decision making power, but I'm hoping she or he may be able to advocate on our behalf.